2002 Public Statement
09/18/2002Saudi Air Bases, a radio news release by Adel Al-Jubeir, Foreign Affairs Advisor to Crown Prince Abdullah The dialogue below was released on for general distribution, and has been widely broadcast.

ANCHOR LEAD: For months, Saudi Arabia said it would not allow the United States to use its airbases in support of military action in Iraq. Now the Saudis announce that the U.S. can use its facilities. A Saudi foreign expert explains. That story in 3, 2, 1 …

ANNOUNCER: Saudi Arabia had previously said it would not allow the U.S. to use its airbases for military action against Iraq. The Saudis have now given the U.S. permission to use its facilities. Why the sudden shift?

AL-JUBEIR: “We have argued that we will not support unilateral action without authorization from the United Nations. The President has taken this matter to the UN, and whatever the UN decides, we, as a member nation of the UN, will go along with it.”

ANNOUNCER: Presently, there are no announced plans for U.S. military action. Robert Barber reporting.